Adventure Starts Where the Pavement Ends.

Arizona was made for exploring on two wheels. From winding Sonoran Desert singletrack surrounded by saguaros to pine-covered mountain trails at higher elevations, the state offers an incredible variety of terrain for mountain bikers.

For riders living in or around Cave Creek, some of the Valley’s best outdoor recreation is surprisingly close to home. Head farther north or south and the landscape changes completely, creating opportunities to ride Arizona throughout much of the year.

Whether you’re looking for a casual desert ride, technical terrain, or a weekend mountain biking getaway, these are some of the places worth putting on your list.

For a ride close to Cave Creek, this is an easy place to start exploring. Cave Creek Regional Park encompasses nearly 3,000 acres and has about 16 miles of multi-use trails where mountain bikers share the landscape with hikers and equestrians.

Go John Trail is one of the park’s signature routes. The 5.8-mile trail circles the mountain and combines rocky desert terrain with wide-open views. Other options include Overton, Quartz, Flume, Slate and Clay Mine, allowing riders to put together routes of varying lengths and difficulty.

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For riders who like having options, Scottsdale’s McDowell Sonoran Preserve is hard to beat. The preserve encompasses more than 30,500 acres with more than 230 miles of multi-use trails available to hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians.

Trailheads including Pima Dynamite, Granite Mountain, Fraesfield, Gateway and others provide access to different areas of the preserve. The enormous trail network means riders can create everything from shorter outings to longer desert adventures.

And that access is part of what makes North Scottsdale appealing to people who want an active Arizona lifestyle. Outdoor recreation doesn't necessarily have to be a weekend trip when hundreds of miles of desert trails are nearby.

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Located east of Scottsdale near Fountain Hills, McDowell Mountain Regional Park is another destination to put on the riding list. The park is one of Maricopa County's designated mountain biking locations and also features a competitive track specifically designed for higher-speed mountain biking.

Its location also makes it a natural outdoor-lifestyle connection for people considering Fountain Hills and the surrounding communities.

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Ride Among the Red Rocks

Few Arizona riding destinations have scenery quite like Sedona.

The area's famous red-rock landscape provides a dramatically different experience from the Sonoran Desert around Phoenix. Technical terrain, exposed rock and spectacular views have helped make Sedona a destination for riders looking to turn a day on the bike into a full Arizona getaway.

Perfect for: A weekend mountain biking trip paired with hiking, dining and exploring Sedona.

High-Country Riding

Head north to Prescott and the landscape begins to change. Desert vegetation gives way to higher-elevation terrain, granite formations and pine forests.

For Valley riders, Prescott can be a refreshing change of scenery and another example of just how diverse mountain biking in Arizona can be.

Trade the Saguaros for Pines

Keep heading north and you'll find an entirely different Arizona.

Flagstaff's elevation, forests and mountain setting offer a completely different riding environment from Cave Creek. It can be an especially appealing destination when riders want to trade open desert terrain for cooler mountain air and tree-lined trails.

Southern Arizona Desert Riding

Arizona's mountain biking opportunities don't stop in the Valley.

Tucson offers another extensive desert riding environment surrounded by mountain ranges and classic Sonoran Desert scenery. It's a great reminder that Arizona's outdoor lifestyle extends across the state, with each region offering its own personality.

One of the biggest advantages of living in Arizona is the ability to change your riding destination with the seasons.

When temperatures are comfortable, the Sonoran Desert surrounding Cave Creek, Scottsdale and Fountain Hills offers incredible riding. As temperatures rise, higher-elevation destinations such as Prescott and Flagstaff provide a completely different outdoor experience.

That variety means your next adventure may be close to home or just a road trip away.

For some people, choosing where to live isn't just about bedrooms, square footage or commute times.

It's about what you can do when you walk out the front door.

Cave Creek and the surrounding North Valley communities put hiking, mountain biking, golf and Sonoran Desert recreation within easy reach. Scottsdale expands those opportunities with its enormous preserve system, while communities such as Fountain Hills offer another connection to Arizona's outdoor lifestyle.

If spending more time outside is part of the life you're looking for, Steve can help you explore communities that put you closer to the places you want to ride.